iPhone 14 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra

Apple introduced its new iPhone and Watch collection to the market in September. This time too, the Pro flagship models were seen on the phone side, but now also the Ultra smartwatch, which challenges other extreme watch manufacturers.

We tested both the iPhone 14 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra to find out what you can get for a total of almost 2,500 euros.

iPhone 14 Pro – the flagship with an improved camera

Although the iPhone 14 Pro collection may seem like we’ve already seen it, Apple included features in its new flagship phones that make them attractive. However, the price may be too high for many consumers. The cheapest model with 128 gigabytes of storage space costs 1349 euros. The version that was tested was the iPhone 14 Pro with 256 gigabytes of storage space, the price of which is 1479 euros.

The most visible iPhone 14 Pro innovation is the new “Dynamic Island” area, which has replaced the display notch. The front camera and TrueDepth components are included in this area. Although the black area looks solid, it actually has two holes connected by the black area. The area adapts according to how the phone is used. For example, when listening to music, the area is widened and an image of the album or playlist being played is displayed on its edges. Tapping this will open the music app.

Dynamic Island therefore offers quite practical information, but in use it is not much different from the previous display notch. The area is now a little smaller, and in the future, other features can be added to it, which can be useful.

The screen itself is excellent. The screen size is 6.1 inches in the Pro model and 6.7 inches in the Pro Max. In Pro, the screen resolution is 2556×1179 pixels. The screen is bright and the phone can be used without any problems in sunny weather. The refresh rate of the screen is now changed between 1 and 120 hertz, which is helpful when the always-on feature is enabled.

Apple’s always-on feature has been introduced only to the new iPhone 14 Pro phones. The feature makes you think a little, because when it’s on, the wallpaper is dimmed. More detailed settings are not available, but in use I would like to see, for example, only a dimmed clock. With the current solution, the always-on function consumes more power. Let’s clarify that the screen turns off when the feature is turned on in a pocket or when the phone is kept on the table with the screen facing down.

In terms of performance, the new iPhone 14 Pro is one of the best on the market with its A16 Bionic system chip. The phone is a pleasure to use when everything works quickly and effortlessly. Operation is smooth, and you won’t run into extra charging. The battery life is also at a really good level. Apple could improve on fast charging, which is starting to fall behind even inexpensive Android phones.

One of the biggest innovations in the iPhone 14 Pro is the 48-megapixel main camera, whose cell is up to 65 percent larger than in the iPhone 13 Pro. Apple has taken a leap from an already excellent camera unit to an even better one. As a whole, the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera system is one of the best on the market. Filming has been made really easy and anyone can take a successful shot. One of the best aspects of the iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras is that the colors are reproduced naturally. The optical zoom, on the other hand, is a bit disappointing, offering only a three-fold zoom, when, for example, Samsung already offers a 10-fold optical zoom. A traditional ultra-wide-angle camera is also available.

Below are pictures taken with the iPhone 14 Pro.

As a whole, the Iphone 14 Pro is an excellent package that offers efficiency, ease of use and appearance in the same package. It is a really high-quality device, which is also reflected in the price.

In the flagship category, iPhone 14 Pro phones rank high. If you use other Apple devices, such as the Apple Watch, the iPhone is really the only choice.

We tested the new Apple Watch Ultra together with the iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple Watch Ultra – better battery life

Apple recently launched a smartwatch with which the company challenges sports smartwatch manufacturers such as Garmin, Suunto and Polar. Watch Ultra is intended for even tougher use and promises better battery life than the basic models. But how does a watch over 1,000 euros compare to the market leaders?

Apple Watch Ultra is quite a revelation with its 49×44 millimeter screen. The watch is large, but despite that, it is not very heavy thanks to its titanium construction. The watch weighs just under 62 grams without the strap. On the wrist, however, due to its design, it does not jump out at the eyes, but even feels smaller than its size.

The larger screen makes the Apple Watch Ultra more comfortable to use. For example, it’s easier to write messages, and you don’t have to scrimp on the screen. The display is sapphire glass and the frame is titanium, so it is a durable watch.

Apple Watch Ultra comes with a textile strap made of polyester. The bracelet is available in three different sizes. The bracelet is attached with a titanium hook, which is slipped into the loop in the bracelet depending on the size of the wrist. The implementation is simple, but functional. The watch fits snugly on the wrist, and there is no danger of the watch coming off.

Thanks to the bracelet, the watch is comfortable to wear every day, even though the watch is big. When sleeping, however, the watch is quite a disturbing size, even though you can sleep with it on. However, the tester was disturbed by the clock during sleep, so that less sleep information was recorded.

Apple Watch Ultra offers the same sensors as the new Apple Watch Series 8. These include, for example, a thermal sensor, an acceleration sensor and an improved gyroscope for detecting collisions. In addition to these, Ultra also offers a water temperature sensor, especially for divers and swimming enthusiasts. In addition, the Ultra’s screen can be increased to a brightness of 2000 nits, which improves readability in bright conditions.

A welcome change is the function button, which can be modified as desired. I personally used the button to start the workout. The button can be used during training to mark segments. Ultra also offers a siren that can be used in situations where you want others to locate you. The waypoint function is also convenient, as it can be used, for example, in a mushroom forest, where you can easily find your starting point.

The GPS works well in principle, but in the Urban area, for example, you may encounter some problems, as with many other manufacturers.

When it comes to battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra is nowhere near the same level as, for example, Garmin and Suunto. Compared to other Apple smartwatches, however, there are significantly more hours of use. While the battery life of Apple Watches has been around 18 hours, the Ultra doubles this. In standby mode, the battery lasts quite comfortably, but if you use the watch to follow sports, the battery wears down quite a bit. For example, a few hours of walking with GPS tracking and a night with a watch in hand will already drop the battery by half.

Ultra allows for a more carefree use of the watch, but at the same time you need to plan when going on a hike or a longer trip, for example. This creates a little extra stress for those looking for a watch that can be used to track longer workouts. Fortunately, the watch charges quickly.

The battery can be saved by enabling the low power mode, whereby the always-on display is disabled and the watch’s connections are disabled. In addition, heart rate measurement in the background and monitoring of blood oxygen concentration are turned off.

All in all, it can be said that the Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s best smartwatch to date, offering better battery life and new features. However, it is not yet able to compete with, for example, Garmin in terms of battery life and sports features, even if the price is already at the same point. If you are looking for a super-durable extreme watch, you should look elsewhere.

At the same time, the Ultra is all in all a really easy-to-use and reliable smartwatch that works like clockwork with the iPhone. Everything has been made as easy as possible and after a few hours of use it feels as if the watch has always been on your wrist. This is Apple’s first foray into the smartwatch category, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds.

The tested products were supplied for the article by Verkkokauppa.com.